Garin stared at the sky, watchful for Solus’ arrival. I looked at him and despite the wisdom of ages coursing through his mind he could not help the urge to have childlike fun. “Go on”, I said. He wanted to fly off, drop and then catch the air in his wings. His own enjoyment washed over me like a spring breeze. It was refreshing to see such light. Solus saw him in the distance and joined for a little while. Like a mother and child, they made me wonder if Solus influenced Garin’s form. They spent a few minutes up there while I toiled away with some magical energy. Solus had already given me a way to start up the portal that would take me back to Earth. When they finally came down both of them were happy to have flown around so freely. “Such freedom is an immeasurable gift, I am glad I get to accompany you Jake”, Garin said, his wisdom often stunned me for only having been born a short while ago.

With Solus’ power aiding us we built a proper gateway that could be used to more easily establish portals. Not only would these be used to travel to Alfarand, but it could also be set up to open a portal to Earth. After a supply caravan passed through on their return from Alfarand, Solus and I prepared the portal. While we channeled our energy into it, Solus taught Garin the necessary knowledge to travel in such a way. In a few minutes the portal was ready and we stepped through. Solus stayed behind to continue her work.

We emerged from a bright light, in the middle of a road. After getting my bearings I noticed it was early morning. I looked around slowly, taking in the scene. In a short moment I recognized everything around me. It felt odd being here, right in front of my house. I figured maybe a day had passed since Garalith had taken me to Argumand. When I entered home dad was there in the kitchen, preparing a sandwich no less. He looked at me and said, “well, it certainly has been a while. How are things in Argumand?”. I’ll be honest, I felt kind of angry because he had kept most of his power and the existence of that world a secret for so long. “Really? That’s how you decide to greet me? How about explaining everything?”, I replied. “Look, there was no easy way to explain everything about that world and our magic”, then he noticed I wasn’t with Garalith, “Wait, Garalith passed?”. He looked sad, but recovered fairly quickly, “hmm, I see you have a new companion. By the way, I had to clean up the mess Garalith left behind”. Mess? I looked at Garin, then back at dad, “What mess? What do you mean?”. In all this time I believed only a day passed between the time I was taken by Garalith and my return, the truth however, hit me like a truck. “It’s been three years Jake. I used my magic to rearrange the memories of a lot of people. I made them forget about Garalith, the incident at college and I had to make them forget about you. People would start to ask about you and it caused quite a stir here. You lost your grant at college. Everyone was suspicious so I had to take action. I knew Garalith would take you to Argumand. Every wizard with a guardian has to fight in the war”, dad explained. Meanwhile I was rather stunned. Part of me felt I had to continue the life I had, despite not really wanting it anymore. After all the experience I gathered it would have been very difficult to return to such a limited existence. I then said, “So my life here is over. I didn’t really come back for it though. I came back for you, to tell you my home is in Argumand”. “Jake, I should have returned to Argumand a long time ago. As I told you before, meeting your mother changed everything. When she passed away I was heartbroken. There was nothing that could make me return to a war torn, dying world”, he looked down and then back up to me. I explained what had happened in the time I spent in Argumand and Alfarand. The people I met, Solus and the other guardians. “I’m proud of you Jake. You accomplished things generations of us only dreamed. To think all we needed was to see Alfarand with our own eyes, to acknowledge that its demise would also mean our own”, dad said. He looked at Garin and spoke to him for a bit. Garin introduced himself. At this point dad explained that he had severed his link to Garalith, thinking it would save me from being taken into the war. What he didn’t expect was that this mystical link was passed down to me at that moment. He had argued with Garalith many times. The day Garalith came for me was the day the link was broken. “I really don’t know if I should return to Argumand, Jake. I made my life here, despite the difficulties of living in this mostly magic-less world. Do what you feel is best for you and your guardian”, he said. Dad was understanding. He knew that nothing could keep me there. I could learn so many more things and have such incredible freedom in Argumand. Then I realized, “Will you be alright here? You’d be alone without the same freedom we have in Argumand. Are you sure you want to stay?”. He replied, “I guess, the one thing that would take me from here is you. You’re right. For whatever reason I thought my future would be here, but after learning how things are going there perhaps it’s time I returned”. “Tell you what, let’s take time to live there and see how it goes. If at some point you don’t like it you could simply come back. With our magic there really isn’t much that is out of reach”, he was appreciative of my offer but he knew that if he left he wouldn’t return. Despite the friendships he gained in his time on Earth there was nothing compared to living alongside guardians and wizards. Sure, Argumand has none of the technological advancements of Earth, but surely in due time we could come up with even better stuff. “Then it’s settled. When do we leave?”, I asked, knowing well that dad would want to leave things in the right order. “It’ll take me a few days, stay with me until then and we can leave together. And Jake, I’m sorry for not telling you about Argumand sooner. Once we’ve returned I can share some of my stories with you. Garalith was stalwart, but he could be mischievous sometimes”, I smiled and then walked to my old room on the second floor.

After a few days we bid farewell to Earth. My home in Liriath now had a new room. Dad was quick to make new friends and even reunited with old ones. His magic was also impressive. Together we traveled to different places in both Argumand and Alfarand. My life changed in such a drastic way. From meeting Garalith to reconnecting with dad after the war. The experiences were sometimes difficult to manage, but I never lost hope. I feel that it was that hope that led me to eventually setting Solus free and ending the war. Now, onto new adventures across these worlds.

(Author’s note: This comes directly after Alfarand’s Plea posting got a bit mixed up. My apologies.)

The days have blurred together while waiting for my eventual execution. I’ve only received tidbits of information regarding Garalith. Once the day arrives, Alara promised the resistance would be ready. In a moment’s notice, the day arrived.

“You! Out now! It’s time you pay for your crimes against Alfarand. Our lord king Ephram awaits!”, a guard loudly yelled at me. I was hauled across the city. The feeling of weakness did not repeat itself like the first time I was brought here. There was a magical stability around the statue of the guardian. It was clear it was still there, holding the integrity of the world together. Its magic kept the fabric of Alfarand from tearing apart and destroying itself. As I admired the statue one of the guards said, “You like it? It’s the beast your people so ruthlessly murdered! All of you will pay for what you did”. Clearly blinded by anger and hatred, nothing I said would move these people to more peaceful ways. I was pushed to kneel before king Ephram, the main ruler of Alfarand and its people along with a small group of people which flanked him. Many of them were really old, perhaps the remaining ancestors of the original council that once led this world. “I hear you are a child of Earth and a descendant of a power wizard from Argumand”, the king told me. It was a surprise he learned so much about me in particular. I didn’t expect them to care that much for prisoners. I replied, “Then maybe you would understand that I did not have a full choice in this matter. The guardian I inherited told me we had to defend Argumand at all costs. I have seen a lot of hatred in your eyes. The years of war have blinded you”. Before I could continue one of the guards screamed out, “Silence whelp! Shall we execute him now my lord?”. Ephram simply waved his hand and a nearby guard prepared a sharpened ax. The king started to move away with his entourage when a sudden blast hit the city. All the guards scrambled around while another blast was seen somewhere else. “We’re under attack! Guards, defensive positions! Kill him now!”, Ephram screamed at the executioner, but before he could properly swing the massive ax he was stunned by a small bolt of magic. Frozen in place, most likely paralyzed by the energy he was hit with, the executioner could only watch as the resistance moved in. They pushed Ephram away and freed me from my shackles. Alara gave me a small crystal and told me to channel my magic through it. It would help me restore my magic and protect my energy from being drained by magical voids. Meanwhile the cell that holds Garalith is at the other side of the guardian statue. I had to quickly sprint towards the cell and use all my might to free Garalith. Once there I blasted away the few guards that remained there and made short work of the sealed doorway. When Garalith emerged he looked like a starved wolf. He explained that the cell kept him from accessing any magic, starving was truly the best description sadly. Not a minute passed when I lost track of one of the guards. The man threw a javelin at me. It all happened so fast I barely had any time to react to the attack. Then the unthinkable happened. Garalith used his remaining strength to jump between me and the spear. It struck him right on the chest. “Garalith!”, I screamed out, then sent a powerful bolt of lightning that tore through the guard’s armor and sent him flying away hundreds of feet. The bolt had such immense power that for a second everyone around halted and stood in silence. I could feel the rumble of the ground as the energy shockwave traveled outward. I held Garalith as he spoke to me his last words, “Take the orb on my tail, it will survive me. Guard it with your life and in return it will provide for you. Goodbye Jake…”. I did as he told me. His body disappeared in a burst of light and sparkling dust. I held the small orb in my hand. My magic was fully restored. An army of soldiers approached. Their presence was more marked now. Without hesitation I unleashed a magical force that swept the soldiers off their feet. All the magical energy at my disposal, yet despite my anger at the Alfarand soldiers I would not unleash horrors upon them. Instead I directed as much energy as I could towards the statue. A beam of magic pierced the layer of stone and revealed the scaled skin of the great dragon guardian. The statue slowly crumbles and reveals the ancient being. With its release a wave of energy washed over everything. It calls to me, “Thank you for freeing me, I will pacify the people here”.

Days went by and the changes made themselves felt almost immediately. Fields of dust and sand started to grow new plants. Trees grew in once dead forests. The guardian roamed the entirety of Alfarand in a few short minutes. It was impressive. Kind Ephram heeded the wise guardian’s words and halted any further advances. A few people formed a council from Argumand and declared a ceasefire. The changes could be felt in Argumand too. My own role in all this would not diminish either. With the help of Alara and others we helped rebuild the old capitals of each world. Everyday holding on tightly to Garalith’s legacy. His sacrifice made this all possible, I think deep down he knew what had to be done.

The days felt long and arduous but the work kept my mind busy. Grief stricken over the loss of Garalith, I buried myself in work. Rebuilding both structures and relations between the two worlds was not easy. For Alfarand in particular it was years of hatred. They were only swayed by the charms and assurance of the great guardian. Solus, she called herself. It was her presence that helped push the ceasefire into a peace treaty between Argumand and Alfarand. King Ephram agreed to step down to allow for a new council to lead which included people from both his side and the resistance that sought the restoration of Solus. Wizards and their guardians traveled back and forth to help stabilize each world further. The changes in Argumand are notable. The Fields of Sorrow, a veritable wasteland, became a lush valley. With the new fields people could begin to cultivate again and settle down. The new council of Argumand was eager to rebuild. I was one of the wizards they called upon the most. Garalith’s orb gave me the additional power needed to perform otherwise extremely difficult tasks. Months went by quickly.

One day as I placed Garalith’s orb down on the table I noticed a crack on it. I was devastated. My only thought was that perhaps because of how much I had used the orb, it developed those cracks. After a few minutes I saw as the cracks had grown. It looked like the orb was about to fall apart. I was compelled to continue watching it until finally it exploded in a wave of magical energy and a cloudy maelstrom. From billowing smoke and lightning emerged a new guardian. I thought, “the orb must have been like an egg. Do guardians reincarnate? Or is this the child of Garalith”. The small dragon, much like Solus, had nothing in common with Garalith. In an instant it grew to a larger size and began to speak to me. “Greetings, I am Garin, it appears you are the one whom I am bound to”. I responded, “So it seems. Are you related to Garalith in any way?”. “You must be referring to my predecessor. No. He and I are distinct beings. I hold none of his memories, despite carrying me his entire life. Such is the way of the guardians of Argumand. One life ends and another begins. My memories will shape me from now on, though we somehow carry part of our predecessor’s personality. It is an odd sensation to be affected by something you have not experienced yourself. A lot of the way we develop is encoded in the energies that course through our bodies”, Garin told me. It was astounding to see him develop so quickly in front of my eyes. The loss of Garalith felt distant now. It was comforting to have this new companion. It was clear that we would need to learn a lot of things again. In the war Garalith and I fought in tandem, but in this new time of peace I would have to teach Garin a very different set of skills.

In one of my travels to Alfarand I was approached by Solus and she said, “I see you have gained a new companion. You are blessed, for such a loss would break most wizards”. Solus and I had grown close. I freed her from the binds of the stone and together we helped bring Alfarand and Argumand into peacetime. “Maybe it’s because I’m not entirely from Argumand. My time on Earth shaped me”, I said. The great guardian rose and then said, “Would you like to return to your world? Is your family still there?”. For a moment Earth felt so distant. All my time in Argumand, the war and every experience felt like I had lived a new life. I hesitated because I questioned whether or not I wanted to return, then answered, “My father still lives there. He was once a great wizard of Argumand. Perhaps I should go to him. I want him to see how being here has shaped me”. “I see. Then let us convene tomorrow in Argumand. Until then I must tend to this world”, Solus said as she flew off to the sky.

In the short span of a month the war brought victory and defeat on many fronts. Despite the loss of a number of wizards, many of which were captured, we have been able to hold various defensive bastions in Argumand. One of which is Liriath. Although the great protective barrier that was erected still holds, cracks are visible in the magical dome and it’s only a matter of time until it fails. The few people that remain to defend it are all that stand between the armies of Alfarand and certain defeat. Garalith has mentioned that the capture of wizards is unprecedented and may hint at something far more devious. We still can’t pinpoint what that is though. News reached us that the coordination of the enemy battalions suggests they may be getting help from someone in Argumand. “To betray us in such a manner is disgraceful”, said Garalith. I was worried about the coming battle, “Do you think we’ll survive the next assault? It feels like a losing battle. The more wizards they kill or capture the lower our chances of stopping them”. “Do not lose hope, we have been in difficult situations in the past. We will pull through”, he said with an air of determination.

The battle I feared came faster than I thought. The Alfarand army was relentless. Their usage of their mechanical constructs had been increased from previous assaults. In the very first minutes of the battle, the barrier collapsed and the full force of the battalion rained down upon the defenders. To my surprise a magical bolt of energy exploded near me. There is a wizard on the enemy’s side. Garalith looked at me and yelled, “Stay on your guard!”. As I sidestepped an advancing spearman I prepared to unleash a wave of flames to surround me. The fire quickly repelled most of the soldiers and burned a number of them. Another fireball to the side, an exploding bolt of lightning and rising stone spires made short work of the group attacking me. Meanwhile, Garalith is dealing with an enemy group of his own, but they are mostly constructs trying to hold him down. I noticed, but before I could run to his aid an energy blast landed behind me and pushed me forward with great force. When I landed, I turned to see the betrayer. A wizard, completely cloaked in dark robes. I watched as his hands crackled with more energy, he was preparing another attack. This time I was prepared and redirected the energy back at him. His reflexes were swift enough to deflect the energy away. The cloaked figure said, “Clever, most just try to blindly attack. You merely redirected my attack and now stand there, stunned. Did you think other wizards wouldn’t side with Alfarand?”. “You betrayed us! Betrayed Argumand! Why?!”, I tried to remain calm, but I was worried about Garalith and the other defenders. “Betrayal? Boy, I am one of the few who still remember the days before the war. The old governments of Argumand feared the power of our guardian and killed it. Now look at what we’ve become”, the wizard said. For a second I was unsure whether to believe him or not. “How can I know you’re telling the truth?”, I asked. “You will see soon enough. Prepare yourself”, he replied as he took a new stance to launch a volley of destructive spells. My only response was to defend myself using all the knowledge and experience I gained in my time here. I also used a bit of what I learned in the fights I saw when I was growing up. With a few swift moves I was able to get close and shove the wizard back. He thought I would use magic to attack, but my strength had built up from the reconstruction of the village. He nearly fell back and seemed impressed. Before I could take another step, one of the constructs leaped from behind the crowd that had now gathered and restricted me. When I extended my awareness of my surroundings I noticed that the battle had already ended. Garalith had been captured, as had I.

In a short hour we were marched to the portals in the fields. I was dreading what could be on the other side. Perhaps now I would see the truth with my own eyes. Garalith was scared, I could feel him trying to reach out to me. Whatever was restraining him had blocked his magic. The same was happening to me. This construct that remained attached to me had cut me off from the flow of magic. Nothing else to do, but wait and see.

One year, two months. I’ve been training diligently for a war that feels both so close and so far away. Garalith assures me that the first battles are likely to happen soon. There is a place in Argumand called The Fields of Sorrow. It is there that the portals that link to Alfarand will appear. That place is the interdimensional intersection that allows travel between Alfarand and Argumand. Garalith explained many things in the time we’ve spent together. For example, the role of the guardians in Argumand. Each of them is awarded control over a particular segment of the magical whole. They watch over the balance of magic and train along with people to provide help wherever they are needed. At some point in the past said help may have included Alfarand, but something happened that triggered the first war. Garalith was not present at the start of the first war, but knows that it was devastating for both sides.

Among other subjects that Garalith explained, he mentioned that the population of Argumand was always pretty scarce. The few people that arrived there often did so from Earth. A few were chosen to lead their lives as wizards. Many others inherited their power, much like I did. There are no countries established. Most of the time magic is used to maintain a few farmlands around the continent. Although we’re currently stationed close to The Fields of Sorrow, Garalith and I have been able to visit a number of villages. Some of them are very much like the one we settled in, abandoned. There are not enough travelers to maintain steady commerce so many villages collapse in a short time. People here could be best described as nomads. Only three villages are large enough to remain constant and their biggest advantage is the amount of wizards that live in them.

Garalith and I have spent the past week patrolling the area of the fields. Not too long ago a low rumble was felt at night. A distortion has now appeared in a long swath of the fields. This is evidence of the portals beginning to form. Now it felt like war was literally at our doorstep. Our village, which we ended up calling Liriath, was now bustling and the conflict started scaring away some of the people. A small few said they would provide what support they could. For us wizards there was little risk. Our spells can be sent off from relative safety. Regardless, I promised to do my best to protect them. I had grown close to these people and learned much of the world to just abandon them to their luck against Alfarand.

When the portals finally formed armies began to pour through. Their savage assault tore through the fields. Many of the wizards created a protective barrier around Liriath. This forced the armies of Alfarand to take another route. Meanwhile we bombarded them with spells. I was surprised to see strange mechanical constructs that fought alongside the soldiers. Some of the machines resembled golems, humanlike shapes that held incredible strength. I thought of the movies I saw back on Earth. Then there were also other bipedal constructs that could lock themselves to the ground, their upper body had a spear cannon that could launch a spear with such force that even our sturdiest barriers had difficulty repelling them. I shuddered to think what it could do to a person. In the span of a few hours we were able to push back the invaders temporarily, before they mustered their strength and won the fields.

The days blurred together. So much so that two months passed. Two months of unwavering conflict. Many of the wizards were now exhausted. A few had been captured, something we did not anticipate. The armies of Alfarand avoided continuing their advance toward Liriath, but instead took to invading and destroying other small towns that lacked the protection of the more powerful wizards. Sometimes they invaded a town, only to find it had been abandoned for years. They don’t really know the conditions of living in Argumand, but then, we don’t know theirs in Alfarand. My curiosity was piqued. I needed to know, so I asked Garalith. “I know little of Alfarand. Before my time there was conflict. We never had any reason to venture forth. Some of the other guardians often wonder as you do. Of those, only a few suspect there is some sort of political power behind the invasion force, or else they would not be so successful”, he said. All he knows is the conflict he was born in. Perhaps we could find a way through and learn more, but for now we needed to focus on our defense of Liriath. It remained our best bet in keeping the invading forces occupied.

The crashing noise behind me startled everyone as I ran past them. At first they thought I was the one making all the ruckus, but afterwards they saw the real perpetrator. A huge dog-like creature. Its black fur with purple glowing lines was the least impressive feature on it. Its jaw was lined with sharp teeth, it sported six eyes and a pair of horns that curved slightly downward. This weird stuff keeps happening to me. I can’t believe that I’m in my senior year and now, of all times, this thing appears. A few minutes ago I got a good glimpse of the creature as it stared at me from a window. It somehow climbed to the fourth floor of the university science building. Afterwards it burst through, chasing me around the hallways. Of course, I am dreading that this thing wants to kill and consume me, though I haven’t seen it actually cause others any harm.

After entering another hallway, the creature somehow phased through the upper floor and fell right in front of me. This is it I guess. “You’ve caused me some trouble”, I heard its deep voice echoing through the hall. “I’m sorry!”, I exclaimed, hoping it would spare me from whatever came next. It continued, “I have not come here to harm you, but to take you where you are needed”. By now everyone in the hallway had run away. Meanwhile I stared at this enormous beast. I could not turn my gaze away, as if something called me to it. “It may be meaningless to you now, but my name is Garalith. Guardian of shadows and your eternal companion”, the beast said. Naturally and because I was very nervous, I introduced myself, “I’m…”. Before I could finish Garalith interceded, “Jake, yes. I know. I was your father’s companion many years prior. In all that time until now I watched and waited. The call has been made for you to return”. I was puzzled, “Wait, why me? Can’t dad go?”. Garalith quickly answered, “He passed down his legacy onto you already. This is the reason I am your guardian and not his anymore”. After a few more minutes I noticed a darkness was swallowing us up. Garalith explained that he was moving us somewhere else. When the darkness cleared we were in the middle of a forest. At that moment I noticed his tail held a crystal orb. “What is that for?”, I asked, curious. “It is my burden and a source of power”, Garalith answered without hesitation. “Ok, what do you expect of me then? I did not know of you or your existence. Where did you come from? And now that I think about it, who was my father?”, the questions rose naturally as if conversing with an old friend. The great beast sat down, as did I. A small rock nearby would have to suffice. When I did this a pair of mushrooms near the rock sprouted legs and ran away. “What in the world?!”, I continued to sit down, still startled. “Ha, that never gets old. As you can see, we are no longer in your world. This is Argumand. It is a realm of magic. Your father was born here and had a similar reaction to yours just now. Your Earth lies within the intersection of a multitude of realms and universes. The majority are inaccessible but a few possess a strong enough power to tear through the protective barriers that isolate them. Argumand is one such place. Along with myself, there are other guardians. The combination of our power allows us to travel back and forth between here and Earth. As for your father, he is a well respected wizard. Through our bond we were able to subdue the armies of Alfarand and save this world. Sadly, too much time has passed and Alfarand has readied its armies to fight us again”. I looked around. The sky was a pale pink, as if the sun was setting. It took me a bit of time to process what Garalith said. “I may be asking much of you, but you must fill in for your father. He is no longer capable of the feats we had previously achieved. It falls to you to learn and help defend this world”, Garalith continued. “What happens if the armies of Alfarand gain control of Argumand?”, I asked not only because of my curiosity, but also thinking I might have a chance to avoid doing any of this. The answer, of course, was not what I wanted to hear. “As I mentioned before, Argumand is an access point to Earth. If they raze this world and capture the guardians, they will have access to Earth. Surely you do not wish harm upon your world”. Without hesitation I answered, “No. Not only because dad still lives there, but I’ve made friends throughout the years. I can’t abandon them”. “Then you will learn. You must learn. Right now the power that courses through you is minimal. Little by little, you will understand how to channel it. I have no doubt in my mind that you will become as proficient as your father wielding magic. You may even surpass him, if you have the skill for it”, said Garalith.

Months went by. Training to learn magic and how to cast it took a lot of practice. Garalith is a patient teacher though. So far I could launch explosive bursts of energy, control flames, freeze water into various shapes and command bolts of lightning. It seems like dad I inherited some of dad’s talent in this. After a long training session, I sat down at one of the benches in front of the house. We settled in an abandoned village. As part of my training I had to work to rebuild this home to suit us. It was hard work at first, but as the days passed I became more dedicated to the rebuilding. This also allowed me to practice my magic. Levitation was very important for many of the tasks that needed to be completed. Having a clear goal in my mind would allow me to enchant objects that would, in turn, do my bidding. Not long after some of the houses were complete, a group of wanderers settled down. Two other guardians accompanied them. I think I saw Garalith smile more after that. The village gained new life. Meanwhile I learned as much as I could about Argumand. “So, let me get this straight, Argumand doesn’t have a sun. Is that why the sky is almost always that color?”, I asked Garalith. “Yes, we suspect that there is a star that warms the world, but it is mostly eclipsed by something”, he answered. This world was both incredible and mysterious. “Has no one gone looking where the light comes from?”, my curiosity was mirrored by Garalith. “Oh, some guardians who have the capability of flight have gone to the other side of the world. It’s the reason why we know our light is eclipsed, but by what remains a mystery. Perhaps one day, when our current predicament is no longer a concern we can go out and explore”, I could tell the thought of adventuring beyond this continent was enticing for Garalith. What little history I could glean from some old books found in a dilapidated Library, Argumand has had a constantly shifting human population. The guardians are said to have been here since the beginning of the world. Said beginning is quite fascinating to read about. Most seems shrouded in myth, but a lot revolves around the magic that courses so freely through the world.

It has almost been a year since I left Earth. Garalith tells me that time passes differently here, though he could not assure me how much was the difference. I’m sitting here, on the verge of fighting a war and I’m thinking about my senior year. I might end up failing all my classes at this rate. Well, at least I’ll know I’m fighting to save my world. That is, if Garalith and I are successful in Argumand’s defense. It looks like the war will begin in earnest soon. The portals in the Field of Grief are powering up. I’ve met other wizards with their own guardians. There are so few of us, but Garalith tells me that our magical powers are what give us the edge. Hopefully this can be resolved soon.